按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
what lively colours you described the union of souls； Be it ours
to realize those ideas。 Let us forget the distinctions of sex；
despise the world's prejudices； and only consider each other as
Brother and Friend。 Live then； Matilda！ Oh！ live for me！'
'Ambrosio； it must not be。 When I thought thus； I deceived both
you and myself。 Either I must die at present； or expire by the
lingering torments of unsatisfied desire。 Oh！ since we last
conversed together； a dreadful veil has been rent from before my
eyes。 I love you no longer with the devotion which is paid to a
Saint： I prize you no more for the virtues of your soul； I lust
for the enjoyment of your person。 The Woman reigns in my bosom；
and I am become a prey to the wildest of passions。 Away with
friendship！ 'tis a cold unfeeling word。 My bosom burns with
love； with unutterable love； and love must be its return。
Tremble then； Ambrosio； tremble to succeed in your prayers。 If I
live； your truth； your reputation； your reward of a life past in
sufferings； all that you value is irretrievably lost。 I shall no
longer be able to combat my passions； shall seize every
opportunity to excite your desires； and labour to effect your
dishonour and my own。 No； no； Ambrosio； I must not live！ I am
convinced with every moment； that I have but one alternative； I
feel with every heart…throb； that I must enjoy you； or die。'
'Amazement！Matilda！ Can it be you who speak to me？'
He made a movement as if to quit his seat。 She uttered a loud
shriek； and raising herself half out of the Bed； threw her arms
round the Friar to detain him。
'Oh！ do not leave me！ Listen to my errors with compassion！ In a
few hours I shall be no more； Yet a little； and I am free from
this disgraceful passion。'
'Wretched Woman； what can I say to you！ I cannot 。 。 。 I must
not 。 。 。 But live； Matilda！ Oh！ live！'
'You do not reflect on what you ask。 What？ Live to plunge
myself in infamy？ To become the Agent of Hell？ To work the
destruction both of you and of Myself？ Feel this heart； Father！'
She took his hand： Confused； embarrassed； and fascinated； He
withdrew it not； and felt her heart throb under it。
'Feel this heart； Father！ It is yet the seat of honour； truth；
and chastity： If it beats tomorrow； it must fall a prey to the
blackest crimes。 Oh！ let me then die today！ Let me die； while
I yet deserve the tears of the virtuous！ Thus will
expire！'（She reclined her head upon his shoulder； Her golden
Hair poured itself over his Chest。） 'Folded in your arms； I
shall sink to sleep； Your hand shall close my eyes for ever； and
your lips receive my dying breath。 And will you not sometimes
think of me？ Will you not sometimes shed a tear upon my Tomb？
Oh！ Yes！ Yes！ Yes！ That kiss is my assurance！'
The hour was night。 All was silence around。 The faint beams of
a solitary Lamp darted upon Matilda's figure； and shed through
the chamber a dim mysterious light。 No prying eye； or curious
ear was near the Lovers： Nothing was heard but Matilda's
melodious accents。 Ambrosio was in the full vigour of Manhood。
He saw before him a young and beautiful Woman； the preserver of
his life； the Adorer of his person； and whom affection for him
had reduced to the brink of the Grave。 He sat upon her Bed； His
hand rested upon her bosom； Her head reclined voluptuously upon
his breast。 Who then can wonder； if He yielded to the
temptation？ Drunk with desire； He pressed his lips to those
which sought them： His kisses vied with Matilda's in warmth and
passion。 He clasped her rapturously in his arms； He forgot his
vows； his sanctity； and his fame： He remembered nothing but the
pleasure and opportunity。
'Ambrosio！ Oh！ my Ambrosio！' sighed Matilda。
'Thine； ever thine！' murmured the Friar； and sank upon her bosom。
CHAPTER III
These are the Villains
Whom all the Travellers do fear so much。
Some of them are Gentlemen
Such as the fury of ungoverned Youth
Thrust from the company of awful Men。
Two Gentlemen of Verona。
The Marquis and Lorenzo proceeded to the Hotel in silence。 The
Former employed himself in calling every circumstance to his
mind； which related might give Lorenzo's the most favourable idea
of his connexion with Agnes。 The Latter； justly alarmed for the
honour of his family； felt embarrassed by the presence of the
Marquis： The adventure which He had just witnessed forbad his
treating him as a Friend； and Antonia's interests being entrusted
to his mediation； He saw the impolicy of treating him as a Foe。
He concluded from these reflections； that profound silence would
be the wisest plan； and waited with impatience for Don Raymond's
explanation。
They arrived at the Hotel de las Cisternas。 The Marquis
immediately conducted him to his apartment； and began to express
his satisfaction at finding him at Madrid。 Lorenzo interrupted
him。
'Excuse me； my Lord；' said He with a distant air； 'if I reply
somewhat coldly to your expressions of regard。 A Sister's honour
is involved in this affair： Till that is established； and the
purport of your correspondence with Agnes cleared up； I cannot
consider you as my Friend。 I am anxious to hear the meaning of
your conduct； and hope that you will not delay the promised
explanation。'
'First give me your word； that you will listen with patience and
indulgence。'
'I love my Sister too well to judge her harshly； and till this
moment I possessed no Friend so dear to me as yourself。 I will
also confess； that your having it in your power to oblige me in a
business which I have much at heart； makes me very anxious to
find you still deserving my esteem。'
'Lorenzo； you transport me！ No greater pleasure can be given me；
than an opportunity of serving the Brother of Agnes。'
'Convince me that I can accept your favours without dishonour；
and there is no Man in the world to whom I am more willing to be
obliged。'
'Probably； you have already heard your Sister mention the name of
Alphonso d'Alvarada？'
'Never。 Though I feel for Agnes an affection truly fraternal；
circumstances have prevented us from being much together。 While
yet a Child She was consigned to the care of her Aunt； who had
married a German Nobleman。 At his Castle She remained till two
years since； when She returned to Spain； determined upon
secluding herself from the world。'
'Good God！ Lorenzo； you knew of her intention； and yet strove
not to make her change it？'
'Marquis； you wrong me。 The intelligence； which I received at
Naples； shocked me extremely； and I hastened my return to Madrid
for the express purpose of preventing the sacrifice。 The moment
that I arrived； I flew to the Convent of St。 Clare； in which
Agnes had chosen to perform her Noviciate。 I requested to see my
Sister。 Conceive my surprise when She sent me a refusal； She
declared positively； that apprehending my influence over her
mind； She would not trust herself in my society till the day
before that on which She was to receive the Veil。 I supplicated
the Nuns； I insisted upon seeing Agnes； and hesitated not to avow
my suspicions that her being kept from me was agains